So, it finally came time to MOT my car and I kinda wondered, with all the previous concerns, if I would get a fail for having led bulbs fitted to my vehicle. I (Allegedly) have led headlights, tails, numberplate and sidelights fitted, along with the interior lights. With the stricter MOT testing rules that came in earlier in the year, I thought the tester may say they need reverting back to energy sapping bulbs. I also had a concern that the dpf may be missing its internal gubbins and so pump out too much fumes and again, cause concern!

 

Well, I needn't have worried as the car passed without even an advisory or the suggestion that anything was untoward! No sideways glance from the tester to suggest the bulbs might not be compliant and no scratching of heads when checking the exhaust emissions, which passed without glitch. No plumes of smoke or masses of NOX.

 

Now had the dpf been missing from the pipe or had the inspector seen welds where the internals had been removed, it may have been a different story. However, the guy who (Allegedly) Made sure I, or someone else, would not have dpf issues again, says the technique is to remove the offending part and basically extract the gubbins from the open end and then fit back an empty or near empty chamber, allowing flow but not showing damage.It still sounds fairly solid too, so the old "Hit it with a mallet" Trick, won't show anything wrong.

 

Now, for those who think it wrong, immoral or illegal to undertake such action, I am NOT stating I have done this, merely suggesting it can be done by those who have no qualms about removing an offending item that sniffles the engine, causes more harm then good and costs a fortune to replace. 

 

If you read that I have done these things, (Remember, allegedly-no admission) And passed the MOT, so YOUR tester will pass YOU, well, you pays your money, you takes your chance but without actually making an admission, my advice is to try an MOT tester that does a "No pass, no fee" Test. They will not gain by failing you so will try their level best to ensure you pass without themselves actually being negligent.

 

The only thing I did different to usual, was to use a bottle of Cataclean in the last 50L of fuel and to not use Asda diesel for a few tankfuls. I have found that when I use said brand, the car smokes a bit on acceleration, especially after a lot of slow, stop-start, town work. 

Use a quality branded fuel, not the premium stuff and it doesn't happen. This is why I use standard fuel, not premium, then use Cataclean every few months or at least, twice a year. This, along with regular oil and filter changes, keeps the exhaust fairly clean. 

 

P.S. I do use the "Proper" diesel version of Cataclean, not the petrol and diesel version.

 

Also, other dpf and exhaust cleaner brands are available. I just "Like" Cataclean, the same as I "Like" Bosch filters, brakes, etc.

MOT won't tell you anything about NOx emissions 'cos it isn't measured, but glad to hear that you've passed.

 

You are right about that, which in itself, shows the glaring stupidity in testing procedure/rules. It is now meant to be these emissions that are killing the planet, hence all the crap about pdf's, diesels, etc, but nothing is really being done. Lower, 20MPH speed limits also contribute to emissions and that is well documented but hey- they still pop up everywhere!

 

My theory on this is electric cars. They will run longer with lower speeds, unless you take recuperative braking into the equation, and also, if hit by a silent car at 20MPH, you will suffer less then being hit by a silent car at 30 MPH. The same will be said for a diesel or any propelled vehicle but are you more likely to know a diesel is approaching at 30MPH or an electric car, at the same rate of speed?

 

As we are slowly being ushered into silent vehicles, well, you do the maths. Accidents ARE going to increase!

Actually NOx isn't that bad for the planet, just city-dwelling animals like humans mainly.

I think it's quite expensive to measure NOx so will be slow in coming to MOTs, if it comes at all.